India on strong growth path despite global crises: Majhi

Bhubaneswar: Asserting India’s steady growth despite global volatility, supply chain disruptions and the ongoing West Asia crisis, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday credited the Narendra Modi government’s “visionary leadership” for keeping the development trajectory intact, while also pitching Odisha as a state with a very robust law-and-order situation.

Addressing a joint press conference with Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Majhi said, “India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, clocking a growth rate between 7% and 9% despite the Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia.”

He further said that India has moved far beyond the days when it was counted among the ‘Fragile Five’, citing a 7.7% growth rate in 2025-26 as evidence of resilience driven by strong infrastructure, manufacturing, services and a robust digital ecosystem.

He also noted a marked shift in internal security, stating that incidents such as frequent terror attacks that once made headlines have significantly declined.

Majhi extended greetings on behalf of Odisha’s people ahead of Modi completing 4,399 days in office, set to make him the longest-serving elected Prime Minister.

Highlighting Odisha’s progress under the “double-engine govt”, Majhi said, “Improved Centre-state coordination has ensured better implementation of schemes and direct benefits to people. Before BJP came to power in Odisha, the implementation of various schemes was slower because of lack of coordination between the Centre and state.”

He added that with an impressive law-and-order situation, Odisha has been marching ahead and pointed to major infrastructure initiatives, including a Rs 21,500 crore satellite port at Bahuda, a Rs 22,700 crore shipbuilding cluster in Kendrapada and development of National Waterway-5 linking industrial hubs with ports.

“In the agriculture sector, 34.59 lakh farmers are receiving support under PM-Kisan, while millet and pulse production has increased significantly in Koraput and Ganjam. Palm oil cultivation has also expanded. A branch of the National Cooperative University is coming up in Bhubaneswar, alongside revival of defunct sugar mills such as Badamba,” he said.

Under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, around 12 lakh fishermen are benefiting, with new aqua infrastructure, including an integrated aqua park at Hirakud and fish markets in Balasore and Bhubaneswar.

More than 8.8 lakh women have received assistance under PM Matruvandana, while the state has created over 23.46 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’. In the MSME sector, 1.76 lakh units have availed collateral-free loans worth Rs 23,000 crore and traditional artisans are benefiting under PM Vishwakarma.

Majhi said 1,759 villages in PVTG areas have been connected by roads under PM JANMAN, benefiting over three lakh people. Odisha has also ranked among the top states in NITI Aayog’s Fiscal Health Index in 2025 and 2026.

He described the past 12 years as an “era of transformation” and said Odisha remains committed to contributing to a developed India by 2047 while aiming to achieve a prosperous, self-reliant, developed state by 2036.